The Most Flattering Maxi Dresses

Did you have a chance to see my (post)

over at www.hopehelmsblog.com? This was one of the outfit formulas. I love how easy it is to wear a maxi dress. You can't get any more comfortable than a long knit dress, and yet I feel the most feminine and dressed up when I wear a maxi dress.

Dress is from LOFT, but I thrifted it for $7

Scarf is H&M - $7

Espadrilles - Nine West - gifted

Bag - Goodwill - $3

Sunnies - Banana Republic - $17

Below are my budget friendly picks that are so flattering, they would look great on just about any body type, including pregnant mommas!

Venus - $36

Piperlime - $35

 Bonton - $35

Bonton - $58

Piperlime - $30

Side Braid and Maxi Dress

 This has been such a relaxing week so far. I've gotten a lot of housework done and enjoyed staying home all week for the most part. I usually don't wear loungewear even if I'm just staying home, but I indulged quite a bit in that this week and am glad I did. Today, however, I had a playdate scheduled and decided it was high time I break out a decent outfit. Side braid, winged eyeliner, dresses, and heels no less!

Sweater - Target - $7 Similar $15

Dress - Ann Taylor LOFT via thrift - $7 Similar $20

Heels - FarylRobin via eBay - $17 Similar $37

41 Weeks and Counting

I tried to prepare myself for being overdue by telling myself and others that I would be super late again like I was with my last pregnancy, but I couldn't help but hope that that last pregnancy was just a fluke - that this pregnancy would be different. I had a really good attitude during the whole of my last pregnancy, but for some reason I just can't seem to keep a clear perspective with this pregnancy.

 

Honestly, I am extremely depressed that I am this late. I am upset that my doctor's tell me a different story each time about how far they will let me go or what they will do to induce me, and I am doubly discouraged over all the false or prodromal labor I've been having. Every night I think this might be it, and every morning I wake up still pregnant. Looking back these extra couple of weeks won't mean a thing, but right now I'm in the throes of heightened hormone surges, lots of body aches, tons of contractions, icky morning sickness that seems to get worse each day, and sleepless nights.

 

I know the right answers to all of this. That it is good to let my body progress naturally. That a baby will come when it's ready, regardless of your due date. That due dates don't really mean anything. That I am perfectly healthy and normal. That inductions aren't safe for a VBAC. That it is so worth it. That I should just be so grateful that our baby is healthy and that so am I (the list of positives could go on and on) . . .

 

In hopes of getting myself out of this slump, I spent the morning hemming this new dress I bought last weekend and have decided to take my children to their school co-op and attend my husband's work party tonight. With make-up, styled hair, and a new dress, I'll at least look like I'm handling all this well. Maybe by the end of the day I will have convinced myself of all of these positive thoughts that are really in fact the truth and what I should be thinking.

 

Until then, your thoughts and prayers for a grateful heart, a cheerful attitude, and a more self sacrificing love for this incredible blessing God has given me would be much appreciated!

 

Dress - Liz Lange Maternity for Target - $10

Sweater - Banana Republic - hand-me-down

Cuff and watch - gifted

Earrings - hand-me-down

Clogs - Macy's - $21

Maxi Dress

 

Wore this to my son's school co-op yesterday. This may have been our last truly warm day before Fall sets in. I'm looking forward to wearing sweaters and boots, but I'll miss the ease of sandals and knit dresses that work so great for summer.

Dress by Loft that I thrifted for $7

Scarf from H&M for $6

T-shirt - Gap - $3

Looks like the last time this dress appeared on the blog was on May 11, when I was 17 or 18 weeks along:

Labor Day Weekend

I wore this to church yesterday. For the first time, this dress is finally not too long. My bump massive baby belly is lifting the hem in front quite a bit.

 

Here is what this dress on me looked like last month:

Dress - thrifted - $7



Maxi Dresses In the Rain

 

 

I don't know what I was thinking when I picked out a maxi dress to wear on a rainy day. The wet parking lot at the grocery store got the bottom 6 inches of my dress soaked. Brilliant.

 

We spent this past weekend at a lake up in Michigan with some friends. I normally love the sun, water, and heat, but found that I don't enjoy it as much when I'm this pregnant. I still had fun, but I avoided the jet ski and took several breaks indoors. I felt like a party pooper, but at least I kept my sanity.

 

Dress - Matty M - thrifted for $7

Flowers

 Dress - Thrifted for $7

Sweater - Ann Taylor Loft via Goodwill - $3

Earrings - gifted

Cami - Lunaire - $4.99

Maxi Dress and Another Haircut

Had to get my bangs thinned out a bit. The mod/blunt cut just wasn't me. Feeling a bit lighter and fresher now.

 

Anything knit and stretchy is my best bet these days. This maxi dress is perfect for my growing bump and this warm weather.

 

Dress - Ann Taylor Loft via a thrift shop - $7

Necklace - Charlotte Russe - $8.50

Side Braid

A friend of mine is always wearing beautiful braids. She pulls them to the side, over her head, just to get her bangs out of her face, or in an updo. She does french braids, inside out braids, or regular braids. I'm always inspired when I see her, but can never get mine to look like hers. Here's to practicing!

 

Dress - DKNY from Goodwill for $5

Scarf - H&M - $5

Travel Tips

Dress - LOFT ($7), Shoes - Nine West (gifted), Bangles and earrings (gifted), Scarf - H&M ($7), Watch - Target ($5)

I overexposed the first photo so you could actually see the black. Black clothing is so hard to photograph. I found this dress at a thrift shop for $7. No alterations needed. Score! The best part of it all, was just the day before I went to that thrift score, I was thinking about how I'd love to have a black maxi dress just to travel in. And sure enough.

If you couldn't tell aleady, today is a travel day. I'm flying to California for a mini family reunion/wedding.

Since I've been traveling some this year, I thought I'd post my top 5 tips for traveling.

#1 I always dress fairly nice. I've tried the sweatsuit route and for some reason my experience is that when I dress down at an airport or on a flight, I get treated a lot worse by flight attendants, other passengers, and airport security. When I dress well, everyone jumps to help me with my bags and treats me with respect. People always judge you on what's on the outside if they don't know you. 

#2 I always cover my legs. I opt for long pants or a long dress (regardless of how warm it is outside) because I usually get chilly on the flight and I don't like to have my knees exposed for hours sitting in tight quarters next to some stranger - which more often than not is some leering businessman. 

#3 I always bring a second layer. This could be a sweater, jacket, or in today's case, a long scarf. Anything that can act as a blanket in case the plane doesn't have any more blankets to offer. 

#4 I always dress comfortable. If I'm wearing pants, they can't be too tight, or they just have to be stretchy. I opt for knit tops or dresses so I don't have to worry about them wrinkling and so they can pack easily for while I'm at my destination or traveling home wearing something else. Dressing comfortably includes comfortable jewelry. No heavy earrings, necklaces that snag on things, or bangles that fall off too easily.

#5 I always wear comfortable shoes, but not necessarily walking shoes. I'm sitting mostly, so I don't find it necessary to wear a good walking shoe, just a comfortable shoe that will get me to the terminal and then stay on my foot comfortably while I sit. Usually for me this means a wedge shoe. It's stylish, easy to walk in, comfortable, and also is better to wear than pack since wedges are so large and take up too much space in the carry-on.

There are probably some better tips out there, but these are my top personal top 5. What are your top 5 travel tips?

Outfit Post: Better to be overdressed

Lately I've been saying a lot that it is better to be over dressed than under dressed. Today I felt like covering my legs, but didn't want to wear something heavy like jeans due to how hot it was. I chose the outfit above, but when I showed up at a family gathering I was asked why I was dressed so formally. Made me wonder if my motto really should be my motto. I thought a maxi skirt was a casual look if paired with a casual shoe and a casual top.

I wish I could get it exactly right every time.

Top - Banana Republic - thrifted $3

Skirt - Gap - $9

Wedges - Nine West - gifted

Bangles - gifted

Shell earrings - Target - $1

Outfit Post: The Diaper Dress

My son calls this dress my "diaper" dress. I found it at Goodwill (surprise, surprise), and while I was inspecting it for stains at the store with my son right beside me, I found that the top part of the dress fits like a bodysuit with snaps underneath the skirt part of the dress. That translates to "diaper" for my son apparently.

I thought the dress looked so comfortable and the fit so flattering I had to buy it even though it was covered in some reddish stain on the side. I brought it home and immediately soaked it in Oxyclean and the stains came right out. After a good washing and drying (even though it was supposed to be air dried), it shrunk to the absolute perfect length for me.

Another thing I love about this dress is that it's a knit (comfy) and the color is oatmeal heather. Any kind of heather finish works miracles on hiding stains which are bound to appear when two kids are crawling over me at all times. Yep, this diaper dress is a keeper.

I'm having company for dinner tonight and thought this comfy/casual dress would be the perfect hostess dress. Will definitely have to wear some cute aprons all day while I cook and bake and hope that the dress makes it stain free through today and this evening!

Dress - Goodwill - $5

Necklace - gifted

Espadrilles - Target - $6

Outfit Post: Dinner in Tuscany

Relaxing at the pool before dinner...wearing nail polish from a friend who bought it especially for my trip because it's called "Midnight in Italy".

 Dress thrifted, clutch from an antique store, necklace and earrings gifted

 Our dinner view was so serene and beautiful!

The food was delicious!

Cameo Appearance by Missi

OK, so she's not even truly making an appearance, because she's not even the one posting this. For those of you who don't know, Missi is my sister and she began this blog with me back in 2007. Somewhere along the way she stopped posting, but she's never stopped looking stylish!

My brother was visiting her this past week and he took these pictures. When I saw them I told Missi I HAD to post this dress on the blog. So cute, right?!

She got the dress at Marshall's for $24. I wish I had a Marshall's out here.

And, by the way, Missi is in her second trimester. Baby #3 is on the way! Woohoo!

Outfit Post: Father's Day

Finally feeling better, but now my husband is sick. :-( It won't be much of a Father's Day for him.

After church we're taking our Dad out to lunch and then hanging out with the entire fam at the pool all afternoon. I thought this dress would carry me easily from church, to the restaurant, and to the poolside.

Dress - Old Navy - gifted

Earrings - Macy's - $2

T-strap sandals - Ann Taylor Loft - $9

White cami (actually a Champion jogbra) - One Hanes Place - $22